USA > Maine > Kennebec County > Waterville > The centennial history of Waterville, Kennebec County, Maine, including the oration, the historical address and the poem presented at the celebration of the centennial anniversary of the incorporation of the town, June 23d, 1902 > Part 45
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Frank Chase, one of the most successful of Waterville inven- tors and business men, was born in Waterville, May 10, 1847, the son of Franklin S. and Dorothy Annis Chase. He was edu- cated in the city schools but at seventeen years of age joined the
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navy. On the close of the war he became a machinist and inven- tor in Boston, where he resided until 1894, when he returned to Waterville and bought the Herrick place on Western avenue. During this time Mr. Chase invented and patented the Chase lasting machine. This machine was very successful, came into large use and through the company which controls it, pays Mr. Chase a very handsome annual revenue. About fifty other patents are on Mr. Chase's list. After coming to Waterville, Mr. Chase built the stone dam on the Messalonskee and devel- oped the business which he sold to the Union Gas and Electric Company. This has greatly increased Waterville's electrical power. In 1902 Mr. Chase formed the Chase Manufacturing Company and is erecting a woolen mill on the Messalonskee on the old tannery water privilege. November 19, 1865, Mr. Chase was married to Miss Valora A. Whitney, daughter of Thomas and Hephzibah Whitney of Etna, Me. They have no children. Mr. Chase is a member of Waterville Lodge, F. and A. M.
Cyrus William Davis was born in Buxton Center, September 25, 1856, the son of Cyrus and Harriet ( Pratt) Davis. He was educated in the schools of Buxton and in the academy at Gorham, Me. He married, December 25, 1879, Miss Flora E. Philbrook, daughter of Mr. Joseph Philbrook of Lisbon Falls. They have two sons, Harold Philbrook and Russell Wendell. Mr. Davis began his business life with Hon. E. H. Banks of Biddeford, a dry goods merchant, and at the age of twenty-two engaged in a like business with S. Smith, Jr., in Waterville. This partner- ship lasted for five years. Since that time Mr. Davis has been engaged in general investment and corporation business, since 1890 under the firm name of Davis and Soule, with offices in New York City, Boston, St. John, N. B., and Waterville. He is in the directorate of many corporations and has given much attention to mining and electric railroads. His enterprise and sound judgment have made him especially successful. Mr. Davis has been a member of the city government and was elected as Waterville's representative in the Legislature, a position which he now (1902) holds. He was the Democratic candidate for speaker of the House, and served on the ways and means and other important business committees. He is a member of Water-
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ville Lodge, No. 33, F. and A. M., Teconnet Chapter, No. 52, R. A. M., and St. Omer Commandery No. 12, Knights Templar. He is a member of the Baptist church and is a trustee of Coburn Classical Institute. He was re-elected to the Legislature in September, 1902.
George Watson Dorr, the veteran druggist, was born, March 24, 1842. He was educated in the public schools of Augusta and in the Maine Wesleyan Seminary at Kents Hill. He has been (1902) forty-four years in the drug business. After an apprenticeship of four years in Boston, he was in business for nine years in Augusta. He then came to Waterville and was in partnership with Ira H. Low for five years from 1870-1875. Mr. Dorr was married, August 8, 1867, to Miss Mary P. Fol- lansbee. They have one daughter, Miss Annie G. Dorr. Mr. Dorr is a member of Waterville Lodge, F. and A. M., Teconnet Chapter, and St. Omer Commandery, K. T. He is a member of the American Pharmaceutical Association and is ex-president of the Maine Pharmaceutical Association.
Reuben B. Dunn was born in Poland, Me., December 23, 1802, and was the son of Josiah and Sarah ( Barnes) Dunn. He was educated in the common schools and academy. He married, in 1827, Emeline Davis, who died in 1833; in 1834 he married a sister of Emeline, Eliza Davis, who died in 1837; in December, 1838, he married Lydia R. Ayer. He taught school in 1820; was in a country store in 1821; afterwards bought and sold timber land and lumber; sold clocks and threshing machines all the country over from the Penobscot to the Hudson; general lumber business until 1857; of the firm Dunn, Elden and Com- pany, hardware dealers, 1850 to 1863; manufacturing scythes, axes and other agricultural tools from 1841 until his death ; pro- moting and developing railroads, cotton and woolen mills from 1847; president Maine Central Railroad to 1870; in business life seventy-four years. He represented the town in the State Legislature. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and a very large contributor to the erection of its house of worship in this city. His children were, by the first wife, Emeline, Mary Eliza; by the second, Sarah Barnes; by the third, Willard M., Reuben W., and Cora A. He lived in Poland,
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Me., to 1841 ; Readfield, Me., to August, 1850; Waterville to his death which occurred, September 9, 1889.
Willard M. Dunn, son of Reuben W. and Lydia (Ayer) Dunn, was born in Fayette, Me., May II, 1845. He was educated in the schools of Waterville and at the Maine Wesleyan Seminary at Kents Hill. He began his business career as a salesman in a cloth store in Boston in 1866, where he remained three years. Removing to Auburn, he engaged in shoe manufacturing, being a member of the firm of Pulsifer, Roak and Company. In 1873 he became treasurer of the Ticonic Water Power and Manu- facturing Company at Waterville. He was a member of the firm of R. B. Dunn and Sons and shared actively in the building of the first Lockwood mill and in the formation of the Lockwood Company and the development of their business, in which he still is a director. Mr. Dunn is interested in other mills and is in the directorate of several manufacturing companies. He is the president of the Dunn Edge Tool Company of Oakland. In 1879 he was appointed postmaster of Waterville and has been re-appointed under each Republican administration to the present time. He has managed the rapidly increasing volume of post- office business to the satisfaction of the department and of the patrons of the office. The system has been greatly extended and improved during his administration. January 1, 1874 Mr. Dunn married Miss Alma B. Lowell. They have one child, Mabel E., who has studied at Colby and in Boston. Mr. Dunn is a member of Waterville Lodge, F. and A. M., Teconnet R. A. Chapter, Mt. Lebanon Council, St. Omer Commandery, Knights Templar, Kora Temple of the Mystic Shrine and Havelock Lodge, No. 35, Knights of Pythias.
Reuben Wesley Dunn, son of Reuben B. and Lydia (Ayer) Dunn, was born in Fayette, Me., February 8, 1847. The family moved to Waterville in 1850. He studied in the public and pri- vate schools of Waterville and at the Maine Wesleyan Seminary at Kents Hill. He was graduated by Colby University in the class of 1868 and after teaching as principal of Corinth Academy for two years gave himself wholly to a business life. He has been connected with the Lockwood Company; in partnership with Lorin A. Presby was in the department store business from 1884 to 1891. He has been a director and officer in several cotton
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and woolen mill corporations in Waterville, Oakland and Madi- son. Since 1897 he has been president of the Somerset Railroad and treasurer and manager of the Dunn Edge Tool Company of Oakland. September 2, 1873, he was married to Miss Martha Baker, daughter of Judge Baker of Hallowell. Mrs. Dunn is the author of "Memory Street," "Lias' Wife" and other books ; also of many articles in the leading literary magazines which have won high appreciation and approval. Her depth of insight, clearness in portraiture and true feeling, sometimes veiled in humor, have given value as well as popularity to her books, while the reading of her unpublished stories for the benefit of the Woman's Association or the Woman's Literary Club has been a delightful feature of their winter's program. Mr. and Mrs. Dunn have two children, Florence E. and Henry W. The latter was graduated at Colby in '98 and at the Harvard Law School with high honor in the class of 1902. Mr. Dunn has been on the board of education six years and a trustee of Maine Wesleyan Seminary since 1877. He has received the degree of A. B. and A. M. from Colby, is a member of the Masonic order, the Zeta Psi fraternity and the Methodist Episcopal church.
Moses C. Foster was born in Newry, Oxford county, Me. in July, 1827, the son of Benjamin and Lovisa Foster. He studied in the common schools, the Rumford High school, taught at the time by the late Judge Virgin, Gould's Academy, Bethel, and Bridgton Academy. In June, 1849, he was married to Miss Francina Smith, daughter of Peter G. and Polly Smith of Bethel. In 1846 Mr. Foster commenced business as a contractor and builder and has continued in the same business for fifty-six years (1902). During the Civil War he served, by appointment, as master builder in the quartermaster's department, U. S. A., at Washington, D. C. The most of Mr. Foster's work has been on important contracts for public buildings for the U. S. Govern- ment, the State, counties, cities, towns, railroads, churches, etc. He has, to the present time, built thirteen churches. In 1874 he moved to Waterville and in 1880 associated with him in business, his only son, Herbert G. Foster under the firm name of M. C. Foster and Son. After the death of Mr. Herbert Foster the firm name was continued. Mr. Foster is a member of the I. O. O. F., 'and has long been a prominent and helpful member of the Metho-
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dist church. His children are Eva E., wife of Dr. F. E. Stevens, Ada M., wife of Hon. W. C. Philbrook ; Herbert G., deceased ; Carrie M., wife of Frank Redington ; Alleen, wife of Frederick J. Arnold ; and Angie, wife of Dr. J. Frederick Hill.
Mark Gallert has been from boyhood in business in Waterville. He was born in Germany, October 27, 1847, the son of Moses Gallert. In 1862 he entered the store of his brother, David Gal- lert, who for many years was a prominent and much respected merchant of this city. Since 1872 Mr. Gallert has been engaged in the boot and shoe business, in this, as in other business ven- tures, proving successful. October 27, 1872, being exactly twenty-five years old, he was married to Miss Rebecca Peavy, daughter of Jacob Peavy. He was selectman in 1877 and is a member of the Masonic order. His children are D. J. Gallert, Sidney M., Miriam F., Aimer P., and Gordon. In 1883 he built the fine residence on Silver street which has since been his home. He has large holdings in city real estate.
Elbridge L. Getchell was born in Waterville, March 22, 1814. He was the son of Nehemiah Getchell, Jr., who in turn was son of the Nehemiah Getchell who acted as guide for Gen. Benedict Arnold in his expedition against Quebec. Eldridge Getchell was graduated in the class of 1837, Waterville College. He was twice married, in 1839 to Mary Shepherd, whose father was one of the first trustees of the college, and in 1850 to Mrs. Frances Ames. He read law two years with Harrison A. Smith and Isaac Redingon and was then admitted to the bar. He was post- master from 1844-'48 and from 1854-'60; from 1861 to 1879 cashier of Waterville Bank. He was a trustee of the college from 1850 to 1880, and served as treasurer without compensa- tion for thirty years, from 1851 to 1881. He died, April 30, 1899, at his home on Getchell street.
M'alter Beemcut Getchell was born in Winslow, December 24, 1809; was the son of William Getchell. He was in the Winslow public schools and in the Waterville Institute. In 1833 he mar- ried Ann Elisabeth Balkcom; in 1847 Antionette Colby. In 1830 he was partner with William Getchell in a grocery store; from 1831 in lumber business, saw mills, steamboat building and sea faring ; and was in business for seventy years. He has long
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been a member of the Universalist church. His children are Ann E. (Davis), L. Alice (Burr), Sanborn P., Leslie S., Eva S., Albert Colby. His residence is at 47 Silver street, Waterville. He is now the oldest resident of the city.
Eliphalet Gow was the son of Dea. James Gow, a Scotchman from Glasgow, settled in Hallowell. Eliphalet served an appren- ticeship as a tinman until twenty years of age when he bought the remainder of his time for $100, and with ten dollars worth of tin and a few tools came to Waterville. He began business in a shop on the corner of Main and Silver streets. This was in 1826 or 1827. Industrious, skilful and upright, he steadily pros- pered until 1836 when he built the store of Boutelle block, now owned and occupied by W. B. Arnold & Co. It has been occu- pied continuously as a hardware store till the present day, and a profitable business has been carried on by every one of Mr. Gow's successors-Chadbourne & Gilman, Jones R. Elden, Stephen Stark, R. B. Dunn, G. A. Phillips, Nathl. Meader and W. B. Arnold & Co. He married Serena M., daughter of Dea. Nath'l Russell, in whose family he lived. His son, Geo. B. Gow, was educated at Waterville Academy, Waterville College and New- ton Theological Seminary. He was settled as a pastor in Gloucester, Mass. and Glens Falls, N. Y., and having retired from the ministry on account of ill health, is now living at Poughkeepsie, N. Y. Eliphalet Gow died of consumption, 1837.
Joseph Henry Grondin, born in St. Victor, Canada, county of Bauce, April 3, 1851, was the son of Narcisse and Marie (Bolduc) Grondin ; married, January 11, 1887, Alphonsine Dufault, born in Sherbrooke, Canada. Their two children are Antionette and Gragiella. He came to Waterville at the age of two and one-half years, was educated in our public schools, and in 1889 bought out the stove and furniture business of Oscar Emerson, with whom he had worked for fifteen years. He was overseer of the poor for two years ; was a member of the Society of St. John the Baptist, of the Union Lafayette, of the United Workmen, and of the Knights of Columbus. His death occurred December 30, 1900, as the result of an accident.
Charles Foster Hathaway, born in Plymouth, Mass., July 2, 1816, was the son of Joshua and Rebecca (Foster ) Hathaway. He
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was educated in the common schools, but began work when eleven years of age. In 1840 he married Temperance Black- well. He learned the printer's trade with E. Merriam & Co., West Brookfield, Mass., and worked for some time with G. & C. Merriam, Springfield, Mass. He came to Waterville in 1843, worked as a printer here and in 1847 started "The Waterville Union," which he soon sold to Ephriam Maxham, who changed its name to "The Eastern Mail." In 1850 he built a shirt factory in Watertown, Mass., and in 1853 started the same business in Waterville, which he continued until his death. He was very active in temperance and religious work and his efforts among the people on the Plains, begun in 1857, had much to do in starting the Baptist interest in that part of the city. He was a member of the Baptist church. His place of business and residence were on Appleton street. He died, December 5, 1893.
Frederick P. Haviland, long prominent in the business life of the city, was born at Danville, Vt., December 24, 1808, the son of Ebenezer Haviland. He came to Waterville in 1833 in the employ of the Fairbanks Company who, fearing that the scale business would be overstocked, started the manufacture of plows at Waterville. This was the beginning of the Waterville Iron Works. In 1843 the firm of Webber and Haviland was formed and continued the foundry business until 1873, when Webber and Philbrick became their successors. Mr. Haviland was mar- ried in June, 1848, to Miss Abby Chase of Fryeburg, Me. Mr. Haviland had two sons, Frederick, who spent most of his life in the West, and Charles T., who is in business in New York. Mr. Haviland had represented Waterville in the Legislature, was one of the first board of aldermen, and a director of the Peoples Bank. He was an active and influential member of the Congregational church. He was prosperous in business, helpful in business relations and charitable to the needy. He died in January, 1893, his wife surviving him until 1902.
Hon. Josiah Manchester Haynes, son of Josiah M. and Bath- sheba (Waugh) Haynes, was born in Waterville, May 12, 1839. He studied at Waterville Academy, Coburn Institute and was graduated with high rank at Waterville College in the class of 1860. He then became principal of Lincoln Academy, New-
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castle, Me., where he taught successfully for three years. After two years' study of the law he was admitted to the New York bar in 1865. In 1866 he returned to Maine and engaged in busi- ness enterprises at Augusta. These enterprises have been remarkably successful. He has been president of the Kennebec Land and Lumber Company, of the Haynes and DeWitt Ice Company, was one of the organizers of the Edwards Manufac- turing Company, and, in 1894, organized the Augusta Trust Company, of which he is president. He is largely interested and is a director in the Augusta and Gardiner Street Railway, the Thomaston and Camden, the Bangor and Oldtown, and many other similar properties in the West. He is also a director of the Eastern Steamboat Company. For five years he represented Augusta in the Legislature, for four of which he was speaker of the House. He has had two terms in the State Senate and was president of that body during the critical year of 1879. His ability as a lawyer, orator and statesman was of great value to the State at that time in the settlement of questions which threat- ened bloodshed. Mr. Haynes was married in 1865 to Miss Eliza- beth S. Sturgis. Their children are Marion Douglass, Hope Manchester, Muriel Sturgis. The family residence is at Augusta.
Perham S. Heald was born in Solon, Maine, December 20, 1842, the son of Thomas H. Heald. He was educated in the public schools and in that stern school, the Civil War. Mr. Heald enlisted, August 25, 1862, in the 19th Maine, one of the famed fighting regiments. He served till the close of the war, sharing in the battles of Fredericksburg, Gettysburg, the Wil- derness, Petersburg and many minor engagements. For nine months he was a prisoner at Libby and Andersonville. At the close of the war Mr. Heald commenced business in Waterville as a clothing merchant, and has continued in the same business ever since (1902). In 1868 he was married to Miss Mary E. Webb. Mr. Heald has had an active part in politics, was city assessor for three years, member of the Maine Legislature 1887, 1888, 1889. Member of the Senate, 1897, 1899. Mr. Heald is a member of W. S. Heath Post, G. A. R., of which he has been commander, is a Mason and a member of the Baptist church.
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He has one son, Mr. Fred P. Heald, who is engaged in business with his father.
Sheriff James Preston Hill was born in Waterville, August 2, 1827, the son of Purmot and Lydia Smith Hill. Early in life Mr. Hill learned the trade of a blacksmith, but later became proprietor of a grocery store which he conducted for many years. During the War of the Rebellion he served as provost marshal, and for the last thirty-five years has been deputy sheriff of Ken- nebec county. Mr. Hill has been deeply interested in the fire department, was an original member of the famous "Waterville 3" company and served for some time as chief engineer of the department. February 17, 1849, he married Miss Emeline B. Simpson. Their children are Annie M. (Cain), Charles A., Dr. J. Frederick, Edward P., Blanche F. and Wallace A.
George Jeweil was born in Clinton, Maine, June 3, 1824, and was the son of Sargent Jewell. His education was received in a small country school. He was married, July 15, 1849, to Clara Foster of Clinton. He came to Waterville in 1844 and engaged in steamboating on the Kennebec, first as a deck hand, then as a mate, finally as captain. In 1857 he purchased the Elmwood stables of Mr. C. E. Gray, and a few years later the Silver street stables, and continued the livery business until failing health compelled him to give it up after having been for fifty years in active business life. He was for several years one of the select- men of the town. He gave his support to the Unitarian church. He was a charter member of Samaritan Lodge, I. O. O. F., and belonged to all the Masonic orders in the city -- Waterville Lodge, No. 33, St. Omer Commandery, No. 12. His son, Capt. Frank A. Jewell, has for many years commanded a steamer on the Sacramento river, California, and his daughter, Mrs. Annie F. Gowan, now resides with her mother in Los Angeles, Cal. He died at the Elmwood, October 30, 1895, and the funeral services, with Masonic ceremonies, were held in the Unitarian church, and were conducted by Rev. J. L. Seward and Rev. J. T. Volentine. Capt. Jewell was for fifty-one years a resident of Waterville.
Edgar L. Jones, son of Samuel S. Jones, was born in Dexter, Me., March 15, 1853 ; was educated in our common schools and in the University of Michigan ; married M. Adelle Curtis, Octo-
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ber 20, 1875. Located as a dentist in Waterville in the Savings Bank block in 1879. Was elected alderman in 1888, and was mayor of Waterville for the two years 1891 and 1892. Is a mem- ber of the Knights of Pythias. His two sons are Charles Leroy and Carl Curtis. He was one of the first to build in Nudd Field, at the corner of Nudd and Dalton streets. His present residence is at 58 Elm street.
Simeon Keith, one of the oldest residents of Waterville, was a member of the Centennial Committee of one hundred and had a deep interest in the anniversary, but his death occurred before the time of the celebration. His genial face, kindly spirit, interest in others, and especially all that concerned Waterville, made him one of the most popular of the citizens. He was born in Winslow, Oct. 26, 1814, the son of Sidney, son of Simeon Keith. For sixty-three years Mr. Keith was engaged in the carriage trim- ming and harness making business in Waterville. For fifty years he was a member of the Waterville Fire Department, serving it in every capacity, and was chief engineer for many years. He was a member of the I. O. O. F., and from its organ- ization until his death was a loyal supporter of the Unitarian church. He married, Nov. 26, 1840, Miss Lydia Frances Hill of Waterville. Their children were Sidney, Willard, Charles F., Marian and Robert. Charles F. has been connected with the railroad nearly all his life; was for twenty-one years engineer, and has held the position of traveling engineer on the M. C. R. R. since 1893. He has been long connected with the city govern- ment, serving four years as alderman. He is married and has one son, Albert R. Keith.
William Kendall was born in Kendall's Mills, Fairfield, Jan. 2, 1784. He was the son of Gen. Wm. Kendall, who was born Sept. IT, 1759, and died Ang. 11, 1827. He was educated in the common schools. He married Abigail Chase, by whom he had six children, William, Orra, Mahaleth, Emeline, James Madison and Benjamin Franklin. He married a second time Philadelphia Bowie Maxwell, and had one child, Juliette. James M., of Bow- doinham, is the only child now living, 85 years old.
Mr. Wm. Kendall ran a saw mill in Waterville, on Ticonic dam, near where the factories now are, six or eight hundred feet
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south of the bridge. He invented and built the first circular saw. The saw was six feet in diameter, built of boiler plates riveted together ; and the steel teeth, about three by four inches, were fastened in proportion by fifteen or twenty rivets for each tooth. The saw would do the work of four saws, and once there was made from a single pine log 3310 feet of clear boards. A cara- van came to the town, charging twenty-five cents admission, and on the next day they came to the mill and each man put twenty- five cents into the hat held by one of their number, saying that it was more of a show to see the saw walk through a log than it was to see their own exhibition. "Jan. 1, 1827, the titizens of Water- ville presented to Capt. William Kendall, then townsman, a gold medal in approbation of the improvement he has made in the circular saw. The money to purchase the medal was given by subscribers, at one dollar each, no one being permitted to give more. The medal in form resembled the circular saw, and was made by Mayor Bolcom of this town. At three o'clock a large number of people had assembled at Dow's Hall, which was neatly prepared for the occasion. The medal was presented by Prof. Avery Briggs of Waterville College. After the presentation the company partook of refreshments, prepared by the committee, consisting of Jediah Merrill, Daniel Cook and Lucius Allen." -Waterville Intelligencer, Jan. 4, 1827.
Mr. Kendall was also at work upon revolvers, and had one all completed as far as setting the barrels, and others under way, when one night the greater part of the work was stolen. He also made an invention pertaining to the casing of water wheels, which he patented and which he used in Waterville and in Fair- field. His residence here was near the west end of Ticonic bridge, between Moses Dalton's and John R. Philbrick's. He died in Fairfield, Nov. 27, 1872.
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